Mary Louine Wirtz (20 December 1910, Okolona, Miss), sixth child of Anna and Edward, is a retired registered nurse. She was three months old when the family moved to Texas. She married Dick Bayless in Pampa, Texas on 26 June 1943. They have no issue.

Edna Pauline (Polly) Wirtz (15 July 1913, Abernathy, Texas), youngest child of Anna and Edward, is an ex-cosmetologist. She married O.C. Johnson on 25 August 1937. He died in a work-related accident. Their issue: Sandra Jean; Max Wayne; Charlene; O. Charles; Edward Lee; and Robert Paul.

She wrote: 'Mama and Dad came to Texas aboard the Cotton Belt train in February 1911. They left on a switch engine train for Memphis, Tennesse to change to the Cotton Belt. There were three flat cars and several others carrying furniture, plows and machinery.

Each livestock flat car needed a man over it - Granpa, Dad and Waler. Walter was 8 years old, but walked like 16. He pulled his cap down over his hair, and the train man said, " What;s that kid doing?" and Dad did both cars.

When they left Okolona, Miss. a group of Black Americans were crying on the track. "We are losing the best friends we ever had, and when you ge there, and if they allows black people, let us know. We'll come out too." There was nothing in Abernathy for blacks. We bought coal. They had wood, nuts, fruits, vegetables and warmth in Mississipi.

One colored girls used to wash Mama's blouses. She told her mother, "I cry tears all over it, so I can wash it again. She is so sweet.&

Mama's folks fed lots of colored people and Grandma Gregory sat at the machine making girls' clothes 'till midnight. Material was 10 cents a yard and it took 5 yards or so to make a dress. She wouldn't wear it the second time. It was flimsy and not so pretty after it was washed.

Grandpa Ben Simpson Gregory sat on almost every jury called in Okolona. And they never sent anyone to the pen or poor farm, I believe Aunt Rose said. If he wasn't on the jury, the lawyers were not happy. They said "Being jury foreman, a man who is fair minded, and we would not have the jury if he couldn't lead it in fairness." Everyone admired his judgment.'

Sandra Jean Johnson (6 October l918, Amarillo, Texas) married Tom Millegan, a coach and teacher at MDIV. Sandra is also a teacher. Their issue: Steve (adopted), 30 June ?; Sharon (a junior in high school and National Honor Society member), 11 August ?; and Shelly Jean, 30 November ?.

Dr. Max Wayne Johnson (27 July 1940, Amarillo, Texas) is a Baptist minister. He married Charlotte Krueger, a Texas U. graduate and Home Economics teacher. Their issue: Max Wayne, 11 June ?; Michelle, 15 March ?; and Mark, 15 December ?.

Charlene Johnson (13 March 1942, Amarillo, Texas, is a realtor in Dallas. She married -?- Meadows. Their issue: Craig, 30 June ?; and Deanne, 24 October ?.

O. Charles Johnson (16 October 1943, Amarillo-1976) died of leukemia. His widow has since remarried. Their issue: Christina (Tina), 3 June ?, and Joey, 5 February ?.

Edward (Eddie) Lee Johnson (10 May 1946, Canyon, Texas) married Edith (Edie) Yates, an employee of American Airlines. Their issue: Tammy L., 20 January, ?; and Edward (Eddie) Charles, 1 May ?.

Robert Paul Johnson (12 July 1948, Hidalgo, Texas) is a photographer and accountant in Dallas. He is not married.

Rosa Ewing Gregory , seventh child of Benjamin Simpson and Mary, married, first: Frank John Wirtz (2 April 1882-19 April 1919). Frank was a wonderful man. Every Sunday he hitched up his horse and buggy, and attended Sunday School and Church. He and Rosa always dressed well. In Mississippi, their Negro help carried water jugs into the fields. He drank out of the same jug, but one of the Negroes had tuberculosis and Frank caught it. He did pretty well until some bad sandstorms. Rosa married, second: Andy Gilliam Hobson, her brother-in-law (whose wife, E'Ola had died); but the marriage did not last. There were no children from either marriage.

Edna Eufenia Gregory (14 January 1874-1 September 1961, Houston, Mississippi), third child of Benjamin Simpson and Mary, married John William Elliott (30 June 1872-25 May 1948) on 10 December 1893. They are buried in Houston Cemetery Mississippi. The couple spent their married life in Houston, where John was a mail carrier for thirty years. Their issue: Yourath Rebecca; John Benjamin; Mary Lucille; William Allen; and Willie Rice.

Yourath Rebecca Elliott (12 May 1896-1902), first child of Edna Eufenia and John William, is buried in a country cemetery nine miles from Starkville, Mississippi.

John Benjamin Elliott (28 January 1897-26 March 1934), the second child of Edna Eufenia and John William, was born in Oktibeha County, Miss. He never married, and was a mail carrier and World War I veteran.

Mary Lucille Elliott (23 September 1898, Oktibeha County, Miss.), third child of Edna Eufenia and John William, married George Wallace Rhodes (?-1937) in Durant, Oklahoma on 8 October 1922. He is buried in Tyler, Texas. They had a daughter: Dorothy Jean.

Dorothy Jean Rhodes (31 October 1923, Dallas, Texas) married Charles Criddle (14 March 1925), son of Erwin and Nettie Armstrong Criddle, on 5 September 1960. He served in the United States Marine Corps from February 1952 to May 1964. After thirty years as an R.N., Dorothy Jean retired as Director of Nursing at Houston, Mississippi Hospital. They have no children.

William Allen Elliott (25 November 1899-16 November 1934), the fourth child of Edna Eufenia and John William, married Eva Pickens (31 October 1904) on 29 December 1921 in Florence, Ala. He was a drugstore owner in Florence, where he returned after living in Dallas, and is buried there. William and Eva had one daughter: Patsy Anne, 26 December 1932 - 25 October 1949. She is buried in Florence.

Willie Rice Elliott (8 September 1911, Houston, Miss.), youngest child of Edna Eufenia and John William, served in the Air Force in the Hawaiian Islands for three years during World War II. He attended Mississippi A&M College (now Miss. State University) prior to the war. Willie Rice was mayor of Lula, Miss. for thirty years and is a retired bank manager. He married Ruby Ward Hubbard (4 March 1914) of Lula. Their issue: Allen Ross; and John William.

Allen Ross Elliott (9 November 1946, Memphis, Tenn.), attended the University of Southern Mississippi and is a manufacturer's representative for Whirlpool Corporation. He now resides in Brandon, Miss. He married Mary Ann Bogan (19 February 1949) in Jackson. They have two sons: Michael Allen, 5 January 1970 (Hattiesburg); and William Scott, 5 December 1975 (Greenville).

John William Elliott (3 May 1948, Memphis, Tenn.), married Betsy Hale Bobo, daughter of the Woodrow Bobo's of Cleveland, Miss., on 2 October 1983. William is presently working on his Master's degree, plus working for a seed company in Cleveland. Betsy has her Master's degree from Delta State and is a recruiting agent for that school.

Mary Y. Gregory (24 January 1881-4 September 1882), sixth child of Benjamin Simpson and Mary, is buried in the Grange Hall Cemetery, Okolona.

Maude Eron Gregory (?-4 February 1919), eighth child of Benjamin Simpson and Mary, died during a flu epidemic. She married William Lee Sumner (17 May 1886-14 July 1950), son of Mary Scott. Lee farmed in Chickasaw County. He is buried in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery and Maude in the Grange Hall Cemetery. Their issue: Willie Simpson; Marshall Leon; Rosa Laverne; Ethel Odel; twin boys; and Mary Evelyn.

Willie Simpson Sumner (17 January 1905-15 March 1948), first child of Maude Eron and William Lee, married Lora Mabel Walters (6 September 1907, Chickasaw County, Miss.) He is buried at Wesley Chapel Cemetery while she still lives in Houston, Miss. Their issue: Herbert Gene; William Darrell; Vestal Wayne; Mary Sue; Joyce Lee; and James Marion.

Herbert Gene Sumner (8 January 1930-1984), first child of Willie Simpson and Lora Mabel, is buried at Wesley Chapel. He married Evylene Kato. They had one son: Jerry Herbert.

William Darrell Sumner (3 February 1932-26 December 1934), second child of Willie Simpson and Lora Mable, is buried at Wesley Chapel.

Vestal Wayne Sumner (17 March 1934), the third child, married Meredith Ann Brown. Their issue: Jerry Wayne; Cindy; and Diana.

Mary Sue Sumner (23 June 1936), the fourth child, married James Read Kellum. Their issue: Nina Sue; Sherry Kay; and Ricky Leon.

Joyce Lee Sumner (17 May 1938), the fifth child, married, first: Tommy Chenault. Their issue: Vicky Lynn. She then married Harold Don Gilliam. Their issue: Harold, Donna, Michael, Kim and Todd.

James Marion Sumner (28 October 1940), the youngest child of Willie Simpson and Lora Mabel, married Faye Criddle. Their issue: James Russell.

Marshall Leon Sumner (21 March 1907-25 December 1984), the second child of Maude Eron and William Lee, is buried in Houston Cemetery, Mississippi. He married Vera Lorene Vanlandingham (22 February 1909, Calhoun County). Their issue: Leslie Edward.

Leslie Edward Sumner (9 August 1929), son of Marshal Leon and Vera Lorene, married Martha Ann Johnson (8 April 1929) in November 1949. They live in New Albany, Mississippi, where Leslie is Executive Vice President of Operations for Mahasco Manufacturing Company of New Albany. Their issue: Leslie Edward Jr.; Marsha Kaye; and Nanette Marie.

Leslie Edward Sumner, Jr. (3 October 1952) married Sandra Maddox of Maddox, Miss. Leslie Jr. is a hair stylist in New Albany. They have a daughter: Laura Elixabeth, May 1982.

Marsha Kaye Sumner (11 December 1956) is not married and works for the Mississipi State Game Commission in Jackson.

Nanette Marie Sumner (18 April 1966) married Robert Ballard. Nanette works in a bank and they own and operate a plant nursery. They have a son: Jackson Ford, June 1985.

Rosa Laverne Sumner (13 March 1909, Okolona, Miss.), third child of Maude Eron and William Lee, is buried in Elzy Cemetery, Vardaman, Miss. She married Floyd Jackson Hall (22 June 1906-6 August 1969) in February 1927. Their issue (all of Vardaman, Miss.): James Ralph; John Elliott; Ronnie Joe; and Floyd Gene.

James Ralph Hall (2 March 1928), first child of Rosa Laverne and Floyd Jackson, married Nell Charles. James owns a used car business in Cedar Bluff, Miss. Their issue: Jimmy Rex; Carol; and Mike.

John Elliott Hall (15 August 1930), second child of Rosa Laverne and Floyd Jackson, is a Korean War veteran with total medical disability and lives in Columbus, Miss. He married Florence Adair. Their issue: John Edward, now in the lumber business; and Cynthia Ann, a school teacher.

Ronnie Joe Hall (1 August 1942), third child of Rosa Laverne and Floyd Jackson, married, first: Ola Mae Whitaker. He married, second: Jeanette Scruggs and adopted her daughter, Dana Michelle (22 September 1971). Ronnie Joe and Ola Mae's issue: Tony Joe; and Sherry Lynn, 22 June 1971. Ronnie Joe and Jeanette's issue: Ronnie Dean, 17 December 1974.

Tony Joe Hall (1 January 1962) married Debra Johnson (8 August 1961). They have a daughter: Heather LaNa, 23 August 1982.

Floyd Gene Hall (5 September 1932), the youngest child of Rosa Laverne and Floyd Jackson, is the manager of McKenzie Frozen Foods, Oglethorp, Georgia.

Ethel Odel Sumner (12 October 1911-9 May 1972), fourth child of Maude Eron and William Lee, is buried in Forest City, Arkansas. She married Aloegn Hollowell of Arkansas. Their issue: Mary Louise; Ben; Sue; Dorris; Darlene; Jerry; and Bonnie.

Mary Evelyn Sumner (27 November 1918), the youngest child of Maude Eron and William Lee, was only two months old when Maude died. Aunt Emmaline White, a Negro woman who was with them, stayed and helped to raise all the children except Evelyn, who was taken by her Sumner grandparents. She married Hugh Hamilton Bowen (31 October 1914-?) on 8 October 1934. He is buried in Aberdeen, Miss. Mary Evelyn lives in Aberdeen. They had no children.

This account of the Sumner branch is due to the combined efforts of Christine Gregory White, West Point, Mississippi, and Dorothy Jean Criddle of Houston, Mississippi.